In what comes as a shock and jolt to the Congress, the grand old party’s lone MP in Maharashtra - Balu Dhanorkar - passed away at the Medanta Super-Speciality Hospital at Delhi National Capital Region on Tuesday.
Dhanorkar represented the Chandrapur seat in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra.
Suresh Dhanorkar, popularly known as Balu Dhanorkar and Balu Bhau, was just 47.
He is survived by his wife, Pratibha, who is an MLA from Warora-Bhadrawati and two sons.
Dhanorkar underwent treatment for kidney stones at a hospital in Nagpur on Saturday, however, because of complications had to be shifted in an air ambulance to Delhi, where he passed away.
Dhanorkar’s 80-year-old father Narayan Dhanorkar passed away in Nagpur on Saturday evening after a prolonged illness.
The MP could not attend his father’s last rites on Sunday.
Previously with Shiv Sena, Dhanorkar had won the 2014 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections from Warora-Bhadrawati. However, on the eve of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, he switched over to the Congress and was fielded from the Chandrapur seat.
Dhanorkar had defeated four-time MP Hansraj Ahir of the BJP, who was a minister in the Narendra Modi government.
In fact, Uddhav Thackeray had told him to prepare for the Lok Sabha polls, however, during seat-sharing the seat went to BJP. He then approached the Congress as well as the NCP. During their seat-sharing, the seat went to Congress. NCP supremo Sharad Pawar had a word with then Congress President Sonia Gandhi requesting the Congress to field him from Chandrapur, which he finally won when there was a wave against the Congress.
A few years ago, Dhanorkar had undergone bariatric surgery to manage his weight.
Condoling his death, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “Saddened by the passing away of Lok Sabha MP from Chandrapur, Balu bhau Narayanrao Dhanorkar. He will be remembered for his contribution to public service and empowering the poor. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti.”
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said: “Saddened to learn about the untimely passing away of Shri Suresh Narayan Dhanorkar, Congress MP from Chandrapur Maharashtra. He was a grassroots leader. Our deepest condolences to his family, friends and followers. May they get the strength to overcome this loss.”
The death of Dhanorkar has resulted in another vacancy within the state, the other being Pune, where the BJP Girish Bapat had passed away in March.
Maharashtra has 48 Lok Sabha seats and the strength now is 46 because of the demise of the two members.